Buddhist monks are helping to protect a large swath of forest in Cambodia. The Monks Community Forest (MCF) site covers 71 square miles of land in northeastern Cambodia. Six villages of approximately 4,000 people use the forest, making it the largest community-managed conservation site in Cambodia.
The main purpose of the Monks Community Forest is to protect the forest from deforestation and maintain biodiversity in the region. Monks and volunteer villagers patrol the protected areas unarmed to discourage illegal hunting and logging. Monks also wrap the trunks of the oldest and largest trees in the forest in saffron robes during tree ordination ceremonies. According to a report by the United Nations Development Program, “To cut down a tree or hunt wildlife within the ordained forest is considered as serious as harming a monk.”
The forest is home to populations of at-risk species in the forest, such as the sun bear, gibbon, leopard, and pangolin, which depend on the dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forest for protection. Since the early 2000s, industry and foreign investment in Cambodia have resulted in rapid deforestation. While protected forest areas were established by the government, illegal logging and hunting continue to damage the vulnerable forests.
The monks have worked with local populations since 2002 to increase stewardship for the land. The monks also encourage villagers to use traditional forms of fishing and gathering to support sustainable environmental practices. Villagers can sell any resources they gather in local markets, providing them with additional income.
(source:www.lionsroar.com)
The main purpose of the Monks Community Forest is to protect the forest from deforestation and maintain biodiversity in the region. Monks and volunteer villagers patrol the protected areas unarmed to discourage illegal hunting and logging. Monks also wrap the trunks of the oldest and largest trees in the forest in saffron robes during tree ordination ceremonies. According to a report by the United Nations Development Program, “To cut down a tree or hunt wildlife within the ordained forest is considered as serious as harming a monk.”
The forest is home to populations of at-risk species in the forest, such as the sun bear, gibbon, leopard, and pangolin, which depend on the dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forest for protection. Since the early 2000s, industry and foreign investment in Cambodia have resulted in rapid deforestation. While protected forest areas were established by the government, illegal logging and hunting continue to damage the vulnerable forests.
The monks have worked with local populations since 2002 to increase stewardship for the land. The monks also encourage villagers to use traditional forms of fishing and gathering to support sustainable environmental practices. Villagers can sell any resources they gather in local markets, providing them with additional income.
(source:www.lionsroar.com)
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